Trier Cathedral is one of the outstanding churches in Europe. Its foundation goes all the way back to the 3rd century AD, and its location in a capital of the Roman Empire, along with a healthy helping of Imperial patronage helped make it one of the great European cathedrals.
This astonishing building – spanning the ancient, Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque periods and 15 centuries of architecture – is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes the city’s numerous Roman monuments and the neighbouring Church of Our Lady.
Trier is one of the most compelling cities to visit in Germany, and its Cathedral one of its unmissable highlights. Our guide delves into the Cathedral’s history, guides you to the best things to see, tells you how to get there and what there is to see nearby, both within Trier and in the surrounding region.
Why Visit Trier Cathedral
Trier Cathedral – known in German as the Hohe Domkirche St Peter zu Trier – is the oldest cathedral in Germany, and indeed north of the Alps, with over 1,750 years of history to explore.
It’s one of the most magnificent churches in Europe, a fitting place to hold one of the most extensive collections of relics in Christendom.
Trier Dom also has one of the finest Romanesque church fronts in Europe, and has inspired many others, especially in the west and north of the continent. It has four towers, and there are two more spires at the east end of the church.
It also houses some superb Baroque monuments, including a magnificent second choir at the west end of the church.
Trier Cathedral History
The Christian community that would eventually become Trier Cathedral was founded 270 AD, when the city was known as Augusta Treverorum.
The first church was built around 310-320 AD, and further buildings were added over the following decades. One of these – built around 340 AD – forms a substantial part of the north wall of the present Trier Cathedral.
St Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Roman Emperor, was an early patron of the church. She brought several significant relics with her, including the brought Holy Robe of Jesus (the tunic he supposedly wore when being crucified.
She also brought the Holy Nail (again purportedly used during the from crucifixion) and the sole of Apostle St Andrew’s sandal.
The first basilica was later destroyed, and a Viking raid in 882 AD ruined another church on the site.
The Romanesque Trier Cathedral we now see date from the 11th and 12th centuries. The most prominent feature is the amazing west front, but the choir, crypt and cloister also date from this phase of building.
Trier cathedral is also rich in Baroque monuments, which came about towards the end of the 17th and throughout the 18th centuries. These include the rare Baroque choir at the west end of the church (overlooking the nave), and the ornate altarpiece in the chancel, which conceals the entrance to the Chapel of the Holy Robe.
What To See In Trier Cathedral
The west front of Trier Cathedral is extraordinary. It might not be the earliest Romanesque church in Germany (that would almost certainly be St Michael’s Church in Hildesheim) but it’s one of the most impressive. It is believed to have been completed by 1066, the same year as the Norman Conquest of England. It has also been an inspiration for other Romanesque churches in Germany, including the Abbey of Maria Laach and some of the Romanesque churches in Cologne.
One of the most surprising aspects of Trier Cathedral – for me – is its rich Baroque adornments. The most striking of these is its altarpiece which hides the Holy Robe Chapel from view. It’s one of the most extravagant Baroque monuments you’ll find in a European church, which is saying something. The altarpiece – you can walk right up to it to view it in its rich detail – is a mass of intricate statuary, but it only offers a glimpse of the chapel where the Holy Robe is kept.
Don’t miss the small Treasury Museum, where many other Trier Cathedral relics are kept. These include the tiny jewelled reliquary holding the aforementioned Holy Nail, and the ornate Shrine of St Egbert, a bishop of Trier. Also look out for the stunning 12th century ivory representation of the Annunciation from Saxony, which adorns a book cover.
This Museum helps give you an idea of the prestige Trier Cathedral had during the Middle Ages, when churches were trying to procure relics to boost their profile and revenue. The pilgrimage was the forerunner of modern tourism, so there were plenty of reasons for the faithful to visit Trier.
I also loved visiting the Trier Cathedral Crypt, which also dates from the 11th and 12th century expansion of the church. It’s a very quiet, atmospheric part of the church, and I was surprised to find yet more relics down there – in this case some of the relics of St Blaise, a 4th century physician who purportedly later saved patients by miraculous intercession. A great many places claim to possess some relics of St Blaise, so with five heads and four arms it’s safe to say not all are the genuine article!
Back upstairs in the main body of the church, take a look at the many Baroque monuments, including several grandiose altarpieces in the nave. The west choir – in the apse at the west end of the church – is very impressive, with some fine caryatids in the choir stalls.
You can also explore the Trier Cathedral cloister, which connects it with the lovely Liebfrauenkirche next door. It also offers a fantastic view of the south side of the Cathedral.
You can walk into Trier Cathedral and see all of this for free, but if you want to delve deeper you’ll need to book yourself on a guided tour. The tour takes you down below the church and crypt, and you can see excavations of the foundations of the first basilica of Trier.
How To Get To Trier Cathedral
Trier is in the far west of Germany, close to the Luxembourg border, and has good rail connections. It’s 60 to 90 minutes from Saarbrücken, and between 90 minutes and 2 hours from Koblenz, one of the gateways to the Rhine river castles.
Trier Hauptbahnhof (Trier Hbf on timetables) is the main station in Trier, and the closest to the Cathedral and historic city centre. You can walk from the station to Trier Cathedral in as little as ten minutes, but I’d suggest a longer, more enjoyable walk via the famous Porta Nigra Roman gateway, which would take about twenty minutes.
Some local buses (2, 7 , 14, 30) take you within a 5-minute walk of Trier Cathedral, but I think you’ll get far more from your Trier visit by walking instead.
The Cathedral is also only two minutes’ walk from the Hauptmarkt, the main square in Trier.
Trier Cathedral Opening Times
April – October 0630 to 1800 daily.
November – March 0630 to 1730 daily.
Things To See Near Trier Cathedral
Many of the best-known things to see in Trier are its Roman monuments, which together with the Cathedral and adjacent Liebfrauenkirche comprise the Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Liebfrauenkirche, next door to and interconnected with Trier Cathedral, is believed to be the first Gothic church to be completed in Germany. It was consecrated in 1260, and is inspired by contemporary French Gothic architecture.
Trier’s main square, Hauptmarkt, is two minutes’ walk away from the Cathedral. It’s a beautiful square, surrounded by medieval half-timbered townhouses and cafes, and overlooked by the landmark tower of St Gangulf’s Church.
From the Hauptmarkt it’s a five-minute stroll along Simeonstrasse to Porta Nigra, the amazingly preserved 2nd century AD gateway to the city.
In the opposite direction from the Cathedral, it’s a 5-minute walk south-east to the Aula Palatina, the massive throne hall of emperor Constantine that now serves as a simple, gigantic basilica. This is next to the Electoral palace and its gorgeous gardens, one of the best places to visit in Trier.
Trier’s Roman sites are scattered around the edge of the city. These include the impressive Amphitheatre and Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths), while the Barbara Baths and Roman Bridge are also within reach on foot.
Places To Visit Near Trier
Trier is close to the confluence of the Moselle and Saar rivers, so it’s a good base for exploring either valley.
The Moselle is better-known internationally, and it’s within easy reach of Trier. The most popular place to visit on the Mosel is Cochem, a medieval town with one of the most famous castles in Germany towering above it. Cochem is between 45 and 62 minutes from Trier by train, and an easy day trip. It’s also possible to reach the gorgeous villages of Beilstein and Bernkastel-Kues from Trier.
The Saar valley isn’t as well-known as the Mosel, but some wonderful discoveries await. The Roscheider Hof outdoor museum is one of the best of its kind that we’ve ever encountered, a vast treasure trove of memories of this corner of the Rhineland-Palatinate that kept us engrossed for far longer than we had bargained.
Trier is also close to the beautiful riverside town of Saarburg, a picture-perfect spot with a craggy castle looming above and a waterfall cascading down the centre of the town, between the half-timbered houses and flower-decked restaurants.
Check out some of our other articles on Germany:
Völklingen Ironworks – stunning industrial World Heritage Site near the French border
Photographing Berlin – 15 Best Places To Photograph In Berlin
Berlin Landmarks – 21 Top Attractions In Berlin
And explore more of our articles on churches in Europe:
La Sainte Chapelle Paris – one of the wonders of the Gothic Age
Cathedral of St Barbara Kutna Hora – Czech Gothic masterpiece inspired by the great French cathedrals
Churches in Venice – 14 of the best churches in Venice to visit
Churches in Prague – 20 of the most beautiful churches in the Czech capital
Churches in Santorini – 15 of the best churches on this stunning Greek island
Churches in London – 25 of the best, most beautiful churches in London
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